Monday, June 29, 2015

Last week I blogged about Bee Chama Honey in Polvadera New Mexico. I also got to visit with beekeepers last year while working on an article for enchantment magazine, published by NMRECA.

Beekeeper Ben Noyce
from North Valley Bees in
Albuquerque and Jessica Makin, a beekeeper in training, met me one Saturday. We
suit up in protective gear to check a hive. I’m not afraid of bees, but as we
approach the box, dozens of bees are flying around with a steady thrum. My
heart races. A bee bumps against the mesh shielding my face, buzzing loudly.

Ben explains, “Honeybees
are notoriously gentle. They will check you out and bump you, which is a way of
saying, ‘You’re in my way, back off.’ The best thing is to be calm.”

Jessica shows off some honeycomb

Soon I’m caught up
in the fascinating process. The soft, steady hum of hundreds of bees is
actually less threatening than when one or two buzz loudly, bumping against my
face shield.

Ben pulls the frames
out one at a time to check the hive health. Most hold an irregularly-shaped
honeycomb swarming with bees. Some of the honeycomb cells are filled with bee
larva. One bee is being born, its antenna wiggling out a tiny hole in the cell.
Ben points out another bee doing the “wiggle dance,” which looks like a
miniature cha-cha. The bee is giving directions for finding pollen.

This hive started
with 5 pound of bees. Since there are 3000 to 4000 bees in a single pound, that’s
at least 15,000 bees, and growing. Ben will keep adding boxes to give them more
room, and the hive will expand to double the number of bees.

Jessica had been
exploring beekeeping for about three weeks. She no longer feels as much of an
adrenaline jolt from being so close – usually. She kneels and reaches into the
open hive to clear out some trash, bees flying and crawling around her. “Here’s where the adrenaline hits,” she
says.

Property owner Gino
Perez watche Ben and Jess

As we pack up, they
offer me a piece of honeycomb saturated in honey. The texture is like chewing
on wax; the flavor is subtle and sweet and delicious. Beekeepers can judge the
source of honey from the taste and the color of the pollen. Some wisteria honey
“was so light it almost looked like water, but it had an earthy, strong perfume
flavor, like rosewater,” Ben says. In another hive, the main source of pollen
was mariposa. “This honey was so dark and thick it moved like molasses. It had
an aftertaste of smoky mesquite.”

Beekeeping seems to
be addictive – and contagious. Ben says, “We’ll get calls to remove bees, and
they’ll say, ‘Teach me a little about it.’ Next thing you know, we have them in
a suit, and they taste raw honey.” Most grocery store honey is heated and
filtered. Raw honey may have more flavor, and some people claim it’s healthier.

Keeping Things Growing

Bee colonies reduce
their population in the winter, perhaps dropping to 10 or 20,000 workers plus
the queen. They live off their own honey. When the weather warms up, the colony
expands. An active summer colony may have 50,000 worker bees foraging for food,
guarding the colony, or tending to the brood. When the colony gets large
enough, the queen and some workers may separate to start a new colony. This is
called a swarm and may look like a ball of bees in the air or on a tree branch.

Smoke calms the bees

Don’t panic if you
see a swarm near your house. They may simply be scouting for a new location and
may move on within a day or two. However, swarms can also choose to settle in
places inconvenient to humans, such as house walls and attics. If they move in,
call a beekeeper. They’ll try to remove the swarm with minimal damage to the
bees, and set them up in a new hive.

“This year has been
really weird,” Ben says. “Before, you didn’t see a bee unless you had a hive in
the area. Now they’re everywhere. Everybody’s been receiving three to five
phone calls a day” from people wanting swarm removal. That’s good news for bees
– and for the planet. Honeybees pollinate about one third of all crops. Without
bees, we’d have no almonds, no blueberries, cherries, or apples, no avocados,
cucumbers or onions. Yet the populations have been dropping, at least in part
due to pesticide use.

If someone is
interested in getting a hive, Ben recommends they tell their neighbors first. “They
start nervous, but when promised honey, they’re good.” Plus, “If you have fruit
trees or gardens, you get bumper crops, up to five miles from your house.”

The fascination with
bees and the love of honey drive beekeepers. Ben notes that beekeeping is not
very profitable, moneywise, unless you have hundreds of hives. However, “Educationally
and environmentally, it’s very profitable.”

Abq Beeks offers mentoring and hands-on
experience for new beekeepers. The website lists events and has a forum for
discussions. It also has phone numbers for people who handle bee swarms.

Kris Bock writes novels of suspense and romance involving
outdoor adventures and Southwestern landscapes. In Counterfeits,stolen
Rembrandt paintings bring danger to a small New Mexico town. Whispers in the Darkfeatures
archaeology and intrigue among ancient Southwest ruins.What We Found is a mystery with
strong romantic elements about a young woman who finds a murder victim in the
woods. The Mad Monk’s Treasure follows the
hunt for a long-lost treasure in the New Mexico desert. In The Dead Man’s Treasure, estranged
relatives compete to reach a buried treasure by following a series of complex
clues. Read excerpts at www.krisbock.com
or visit her Amazon
page.

Monday, June 22, 2015

Think all honey is
the same? A glance at the honey I picked up at Bee Chama Honey shows otherwise.
The strawberry/raspberry is a dark amber, the wild blackberry a few shades
lighter. The cat’s claw/mesquite is pale, creamy, and opaque. The source of the
flower nectar makes the difference. And bees make the honey.

Bee Chama Honey in Polvadera, just off
I-25 in central New Mexico, is a sprawling complex of straw bale buildings and
animal pens. I stop by with a group of friends after hiking. We cluster around
the tasting table, which holds two dozen jars of honey in different flavors. By
the time we’re done, everyone has picked at least one type to take home.

“The Middle Rio
Grande is good for bees,” says founder Arik Glesne. “We just pay attention to
what’s blooming when, and move the bees to control the floral source.” Some of
their honey is local, and some of it is traded from other regions, which allows
for the wide variety. “We really look for unique flavors.” Arik’s favorite is
the mountain gambel oak. The bees use the honeydew off of leaves, instead of
nectar from flowers.

Tasting honey

They also sell
beeswax and bee pollen. Beeswax, used by the bees to make their honeycombs, can
be made into candles. Bee pollen is a traditional medicine said to have many
positive effects, including reducing allergies.

Bee Chama Honey has a farm store with observation hives and you-pick salad.
They have some sheep for wool and may set up a demonstration loom. They also
raise heirloom pigs for meat. They sell in Santa Fe.

Kris Bock writes novels of suspense and romance involving
outdoor adventures and Southwestern landscapes. In Counterfeits,stolen
Rembrandt paintings bring danger to a small New Mexico town. Whispers in the Darkfeatures
archaeology and intrigue among ancient Southwest ruins.What We Found is a mystery with
strong romantic elements about a young woman who finds a murder victim in the
woods. The Mad Monk’s Treasure follows the
hunt for a long-lost treasure in the New Mexico desert. In The Dead Man’s Treasure, estranged
relatives compete to reach a buried treasure by following a series of complex
clues. Read excerpts at www.krisbock.com
or visit her Amazon
page.

Monday, June 15, 2015

I’ve
been researching lost and buried treasures as I plot the next book in my
treasure hunting romantic adventure series. (Click on the Reviews label for my reviews of treasure hunting tales.) Most southwestern treasure stories involve people searching for a known treasure that has been lost. This book is something different – an unknown cemetery was accidentally and unexpectedly found. The items may only be considered treasure to archaeologists, but it's still fascinating to think about what else might be hidden under seemingly empty land.

Outlaws & Outcasts: The Lost Cemetery of Las Vegas, New
Mexico

by Ellen S. Rippel

Paperback: 78 pages

Publisher: East Salt River Press (2013)

ISBN-13: 978-0615899060

Book Description: Outlaws and Outcasts. They lay undisturbed
and forgotten for almost a century--until a backhoe driver digging for gravel made
a gruesome discovery. A hastily-assembled group of students, guided by an
intellectually curious professor, had only one week to document the unearthing
of the large, 19th century graveyard. Who was buried in those unmarked graves?
What had they done to be cast out from society?

Filled with stories of early outlaws and fascinating
historical insights, Outlaws and Outcasts chronicles a spellbinding and
little-known saga from New Mexico. For those who love history, archaeology, or
quirky stories from the Land of Enchantment, this book is an intriguing summary
of what occurred in Las Vegas, New Mexico in 1972. Outlaws and Outcasts: The
Lost Cemetery of Las Vegas, New Mexico recounts the accidental unearthing of
graves in a gravel pit. Included in the narrative are examinations of
historical burial practices and customs, and a search through the scarce
literature on events specific to the existence of the cemetery.

The area where the cemetery was found

Review: This is a well-written and enjoyable account of an
unusual piece of New Mexico history. In many ways, it raises more questions
than it answers, as we have no way to know for sure who the dead are or why
they were buried there. But pondering the question is great fun. The lively
anecdotes and fascinating facts about burial practices, archaeology techniques,
and local customs add to the charm. Whether you enjoy Southwest history, spooky
tales, quirky facts, or just good storytelling, this book does the job. Black-and-white
photos of some of the uncovered objects make the stories that much more real.

Kris Bock writes novels of suspense and romance with outdoor
adventures and Southwestern landscapes. The
Mad Monk’s Treasure follows the hunt for a long-lost treasure in the New
Mexico desert. Whispers in the Dark features archaeology and intrigue among
ancient Southwest ruins. What We Found
is a mystery with strong romantic elements about a young woman who finds a
murder victim in the woods. In Counterfeits,
stolen Rembrandt paintings bring danger to a small New Mexico town. Read excerpts at www.krisbock.com
or visit her Amazon
page.

Monday, June 8, 2015

I write novels of adventure and
romance set in the Southwestern United States. The novels touch on local
culture, including food. For my most recent romantic suspense, The Dead Man’s Treasure, I put
together a recipe booklet of foods mentioned in the book, including this
wonderful stew, great for groups, because everyone gets to adapt their own bowl to their own taste.

I called this "Camie's Green Chile Stew" because Camie is a character in the treasure hunting series, and the recipe is from my friend Alan, who partially inspired her character.

Chopped green chile to taste, about 1/4 to 1/2 cup (you might find be able to find canned green chile in the Mexican section of your grocery store)

4 cups chicken broth

salt and pepper to taste

Serve with any or all of:

canned pinto beans or black beans;

cubed, cooked potatoes;

hominy;

shredded cheddar or Jack cheese;

shredded
lettuce, chopped tomatoes, cilantro;

extra green chile;

chopped avocados or
guacamole;

sour cream

Sauté onions and garlic in
oil until golden.

Add beef and stir until
browned.

Add chopped green chile
and chicken broth. Bring to a simmer. Salt and pepper to taste.

You can use it immediately, but it’s
even better if it cooks for a few hours on low heat.

Put the beans, hominy,
cheese, etc. into individual bowls. Let people build their own blend of
chili. Add ingredients such as beans, potatoes, and cheese, and heat each
bowl in the microwave. Then add cold ingredients such as sour cream and
avocado.

Rebecca Westin is shocked to learn the grandfather she never
knew has left her a bona fide buried treasure – but only if she can decipher a
complex series of clues leading to it. The hunt would be challenging enough
without interference from her half-siblings, who are determined to find the
treasure first and keep it for themselves. Good thing Rebecca has recruited
some help.

Sam is determined to show Rebecca that a desert adventure
can be sexy and fun. But there’s a treacherous wildcard in the mix, a man
willing to do anything to get that treasure – and revenge.

Action and romance combine in this lively Southwestern
adventure, complete with riddles the reader is invited to solve to identify
historical and cultural sites around New Mexico. See the DMT page of
Kris Bock’s website for a printable list of the clues and recipes from the
book.

The first book in the Southwest Treasure Hunters series is The Mad Monk’s Treasure. The Dead Man’s Treasureis book 2. Each novel stands alone and
is complete, with no cliffhangers. This series mixes action and adventure with
“closed door” romance. The stories explore the Southwest, especially New
Mexico.

Monday, June 1, 2015

In my last post, I described some of the excellent rock
climbing around Socorro, in central New Mexico. No doubt people have been
scrambling on rocks in this area for centuries. Rock climbing as a sport grew
out of mountaineering and developed as an independent sport in the 1950s.

People may have been rock climbing in the Socorro area for
that long, and certainly have been developing climbing routes since the
mid-1970s. A climber who started in 1980 remembered when trad
climbing was the only option. Climbers had to wedge specially designed
tools into holes and cracks in the rock – if they could find a suitable place.
“We’d tie ourselves on a rope and climb some climb, and find there wasn’t any
place for protection,” the climber said. “I’d use up my strength and think, I
better finish this climb, or climb down.”

Alan Erickson at Spook Canyon

In 1983, the late Bertrand Gramont, “a climbing fanatic”
famous for his strength and colorful spandex leggings, arrived from France. He
started setting climbs by drilling permanent metal bolts into the rock, adding
safety. By the mid-1980s, Box
Canyon had dozens of established climbing routes, and climbers were
exploring surrounding areas.

Alan Erickson took the rock climbing class from Gramont in
1986. “He had too many students for his taste,” Alan says. “So one of our first
exercises was to rappel down from the highest and most exposed peak in BoxCanyon,
then climb back up on one rope while dragging another, while traversing over a
cave. Three-quarters of the class never showed up again. I, on the other hand,
ended up dedicating my early would-be-academic career to climbing!”

VLA employee Bob
Broilo took the rock climbing class in 1989. “The instructor noticed my
impatience while I was waiting for a turn at either climbing or belaying. He
sent me and some of the more adventurous students over to the Ultimate
Boulder. The rock was so solid, the moves so powerful, and the
convenience so seductive that I started bouldering at Box in earnest.”

Bob Broilo bouldering at Streambed in Box

Dancing with Rock

The lure of the rock now draws in today’s young climbers. “I
fell in love with rock climbing,” said a student at the local New Mexico Tech university. “It is such a great
rush, but not a super fast sport. Plus, the rock out here is super amazing.”

Despite the large number of college students climbing around
Socorro, climbing isn’t just a young man’s sport. You may meet families with
young children, middle-aged mothers, and weekend warriors going gray.
Regardless of age, the main goal is to have fun.

“My favorite climbing achievements have always been those in
which I feel like I’m flowing up the rock like syrup dripping over pancakes,” Alan
says. “Each motion flowing from the last, each movement slow and controlled.
Getting to the top? Very hard climbs? Not priorities for me. I like to dance
with rock.”

Phil Miller sets up a climb from the top of a cliff

For many climbers, part of the fun is learning to do
something different and challenging. According to New Mexico Bureau of Geology employee Phil
Miller, “Even if it’s an easy problem, I know that not everyone can do that, or
wants to. I also like the puzzle – setting up and cleaning [removing gear], any
of the technical parts of the climb. No one can just tell me how to do it. I
have to figure it out, then convince my body to do it.”

Tech graduate Zeb Westrom noted, “You don’t just normally walk
up the side of a rock. It takes skill, and you have to learn.” Climbs are given
a number rating for difficulty, which appeals to goal-oriented climbers. “It’s
sort of like leveling up in gaming, improving yourself.”

Whether you want to compete against yourself or simply
lounge in the sun with your friends, nothing beats the thrill of the outdoors,
or the feel of dancing with rock.

More on the
Box Canyon climbing area, including a link to downloadthe Box Canyon: Enchantment Tower’s Socorro
Climbing Area Guide.

Kris Bock writes novels of
suspense and romance involving outdoor adventures and Southwestern landscapes.
In Counterfeits,stolen Rembrandt paintings bring danger to a small New Mexico
town. Whispers in the Darkfeatures
archaeology and intrigue among ancient Southwest ruins.What We Found is a mystery with
strong romantic elements about a young woman who finds a murder victim in the
woods. The Mad Monk’s Treasure follows the
hunt for a long-lost treasure in the New Mexico desert. In The Dead Man’s Treasure, estranged
relatives compete to reach a buried treasure by following a series of complex
clues. Read excerpts at www.krisbock.com
or visit her Amazon
page.